Don Quixote: Cast announced for The Hong Kong Ballet’s spectacular season première!

Hong Kong –6th August 2014 The cast list has been announced for Don Quixote, the first production of The Hong Kong Ballet’s 2014-15 season. Two newly promoted Principal Dancers, Liu Yu-yao and Li Jia-bo will dance onstage as Principals for this first time in this ballet; Yu-yao will be dancing the roles of Kitri, Mercedes, and Queen of the Dryads; Jia-bo will be dancing Basilio and Lorenzo. Other dancers in lead roles will be Zhang Si Yuan and Sarah Yeung as Mercedes, and Li Lin, Song Hai Feng and Frank Van Tongeren as Espada. The role of Don Quixote himself will be danced by Kostyantyn Keshyshev and Song Hai Feng. Loyal fans of The Hong Kong Ballet will delighted to see all 13 of The Hong Kong Ballet’s new dancers, who joined the Company at the beginning of the season, dancing in this production.

The Hong Kong Ballet is also delighted to welcome two guest stars for this ballet: Anna Tsygankova, Principal Dancer at Dutch National Ballet and Matthew Golding, Principal Dancer at the Royal Ballet. They will dance the roles of young lovebirds Kitri, the innkeeper’s daughter, and Basilio, a penniless young barber. Named “one of the top 100 international dancers” in 2012 by Dance Europe magazine, Russian-born ballerina Anna Tsygankova is in great demand as a guest artist all over the world. She trained at the Novosibirsk Ballet Academy and the Académie de Danse Princesse Grace in Monte Carlo before joining the Bolshoi Theatre, the Hungarian National Ballet in Budapest, and then Dutch National Ballet. Canadian-born Matthew was awarded the "Grand Prix" from the Youth American Ballet Competition in New York in 2002, and received a prize scholarship at the Prix de Lausanne Ballet Competition to attend the Royal Ballet School in London. Since graduating, he danced with the American Ballet Theater and Dutch National Ballet Amsterdam before joining the Royal Ballet as Principal Dancer in 2014.

Cast List for Selected Roles

Performance

Kitri

Basilio

Mercedes

Espada

Don Quixote

22/8 7:30pm23/8 2:30pm

Liu Yu-yao

Wei We

Zhang Si Yuan

Li Lin

Kostyantyn Keshyshev

23/8 7:30pm24/8 2:30pm

Anna Tsygankova

Matthew Golding

Zhang Si Yuan

Li Lin

Kostyantyn Keshyshev

29/8 7:30pm30/8 2:30pm

Candice Adea

Shen Jie

Liu Yu-Yao

Song Hai Feng

Kostyantyn Keshyshev

30/8 7:30pm31/8 2:30pm

Zhang Si Yuan

Li Jia-bo

Sarah Yeung

Frank Van Tongeren

Song Hai Feng

About Don QuixoteA cape-twirling, castanet-clicking, fan-waving spectacular!A must-see ballet for all the family!

The Hong Kong Ballet will open the 2014-15 dance season with a brand new production of Don Quixote, based on Miguel de Cervantes’ great novel of the same name. Nina Ananiashivili, the Georgian-born, Bolshoi-trained dancer who is recognised as one of the finest prima ballerinas of the 20th century is staging her own interpretation of this much loved story for The Hong Kong Ballet.

The eponymous hero, who misguidedly imagines himself a chivalrous and honourable knight, sets off in search of Dulcinea the fictional maiden with whom he has fallen in love. On his adventures he meets the beautiful Kitri and mistakes her for his beloved Dulcinea. This fun and feisty tale tells of Kitri and her sweetheart Basilio, and their encounters with the comically delusional Don Quixote and his simple squire Sancho Panza.

Known for its balletic fireworks and bravura steps, this ballet is a tour de force, requiring the dancers to tackle some of the most technically-demanding choreography in classical ballet. Don Quixote is a must-see ballet for all the family - a fast-paced dance spectacle packed with virtuoso dancing, a fanciful storyline, and hilarious characters.

Full-time students, senior citizens, people with disabilities (Limited tickets for students and senior citizens available on a first-come, first-served basis. This discount cannot be used in conjunction with other discounts.)

Don Quixote has an incredible history spanning the 400 years since the novel was written in 1605. The ballet centres on love but also offers a hilarious look at an alternative view of chivalry and knighthood. Known for its balletic fireworks and bravura steps, this ballet is a tour de force, requiring the dancers to tackle some of the most technically-demanding choreography in classical ballet. Featuring brand new sets and costumes, come and learn more about Don Quixote and The Hong Kong Ballet's own unique take on this classical ballet staged by world famous prima ballerina Nina Ananiashivili.

Get a sneak peek into the background of Don Quixote before the curtain goes up on this premiere! Join us at the foyer outside the Grand Theatre for a short informative talk, where you will hear about the sumptuous sets and costumes, and learn some interesting facts that will help you appreciate this marvellous new production.

This programme is about 20 minutes long.Free admission with Don Quixote tickets.Conducted in English with Cantonese translation.

Designed for children aged 6-12, this fun interactive workshop uses dramatic storytelling to explore the great novel Don Quixote. Students will be encouraged to express their theatrical side through character interpretation and they will also learn some of the impressive bravura steps from this classical ballet. No previous dance experience is necessary.

Fee: $80 per personQuota: 40

*10% off for Friends of The Hong Kong Ballet.

Only for ticket holders or Friends of The Hong Kong Ballet. Conducted in Cantonese and English.Enquiries: education@hkballet.com

About The Hong Kong Ballet

One of the premier classical ballet companies in Asia, The Hong Kong Ballet is becoming internationally recognized as a world-class institution that represents Hong Kong’s unique character. November 2013 marked the 35th anniversary of the Company, which has evolved into a vibrant performing arts organization with accomplished dancers, a strong repertoire and technically challenging productions.

The Hong Kong Ballet’s artistic team is led by Artistic Director Madeleine Onne, with over 40 dancers originating from all over the world. Performing a repertoire that combines classical masterpieces and acclaimed contemporary works, the Company continues to commission works from today’s most sought-after choreographers. Recent commissions include new ballets from choreographers such as Fei Bo, Kinsun Chan, Wang Xin Peng, Peter Quanz, Yuri Ng, Cynthia Harvey, Terence Kohler and Jorma Elo.

Throughout its 35 year history, The Hong Kong Ballet has raised its international profile with more than 30 tours and prestigious accolades. The North America Tour in the summer of 2012 incorporated the company’s debut appearance at the Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival which was followed by an invitation to perform at the renowned Fall for Dance festival held annually in New York. In September 2013, The Hong Kong Ballet presented its production of Swan Lakeat the Guangzhou Opera House, as part of the Guangzhou Arts Festival. 2014 is an important year for The Hong Kong Ballet; in March 10 of the dancers performed Nacho Duato’s Castratiat the New National Theater in Tokyo, and in June the Company was invited to perform again at the Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival. In addition, The Hong Kong Ballet received the Hong Kong Dance Award for Outstanding Ensemble Performance in 2014 for its production of Ronald Hynd’s The Merry Widow; also in 2014 two of The Hong Kong Ballet’s dancers were nominated for the Prix Benois de la Danse, held annually in Moscow at the Bolshoi Theatre.

An integral part of the Company’s activities is its extensive education and community outreach program, which brings the art of ballet to students as well as to the wider community of Hong Kong. Annual events include Ballet Classics for Children,abridged versions of full-length classical ballets geared towards young audiences. The Hong Kong Ballet’s Education and Community Outreach department’s endeavors were recognized in 2014 with the Hong Kong Dance Award for Outstanding Achievement in Youth or Community Dance.